Vol. 36, No. 12
certain districts in the conference, by ten-
day institutes, ot by reserving a certain hour
each day of camp meeting which will be
devoted especially to the needs of the
church officers. This training is of vital im-
portance. As the conference Home Mission-
ary secretary travels from church to church,
he has an excellent opportunity to call to-
gether the missionary officers and encourage
and instruct them as to what is expected
of them after he leaves the field. “A trained
leadership in our churches will help to give
life and vitality to the movement and make
possible the accomplishment of greater re-
sults in the work which must be done,
These officers form an important link be-
tween church members and the conference
administration, and their position is of no
minor importance in the successful opera-
tion of the plans for tfaining the laity." —
Ibid.
What ate the goals to be expected from
a trained group of laymen? “When this
ideal standard has been attained, there will
come from our churches hundreds and
thousands of well-trained, efficient workers,
who will be able to participate successfully
in the advancement of the message. In
connection with this part of the program,
we may look for a great church extension
movement, which will result in whole fami-
lies launching out into unentered fields to
establish little centers of influence.
When every faithful member of the rem.
nant church is winning at least one soul
for Christ each year of his Christian profes-
sion, we shall see the dawn of the triumph
day.” —Id., p. 85.
We really want Jesus to come soon, but
we must remember that this cannot be ac-
complished until “the men and women
comprising our church membership rally
to the work.” And before they can rally
to the work, the laity must be trained to do
a good and efficient job.
—J. H. WAGNER.
Entering New Territory
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations; and then shall the end
come.” Matthew 24:14, The fact that the
end has not yet come is our most conclusive
evidence that the gospel of the kingdom has
not yet been preached in all the places
that God intends it shall be proclaimed.
All such places, then, constitute new
territory. It may be the unconverted neigh-
bor next door or in the same block as
we live. It could be our home town or
city. It might be the surrounding country-
side, neighboring city, or a whole county
in which no Adventist lives.
How to reach such individuals or places
with the last warning message is the one
big problem facing the church. It con-
THE CHURCH OFFICERS GAZETTE
stitutes our commission and our rask. It
should be the one central objective of our
lives around which all our plans and
purposes revolve. The methods of entering
new territory may vary a bit in accordance
with just what we consider new territory.
As we most commonly think of that term,
it applies to some city or fairly large
community within the boundaries of which
there is no living representative of the
third angel's message. It is hard to believe
that there ate any such communities or
cities where no one would accept the truth
if it were presented in the right manner.
The problem then resolves itself into
one of how to make contact with the in-
dividuals within the boundaries of the given
territory and then how best to present the
message to them. The problem becomes
more complicated when we realize that all
individuals do not have the same interest
in spiritual things, nor do all respond to any
one plan or method in the same manner.
The varying hereditary and environmental
background of the individuals is bound to
make this true. Therefore, it can be said
at the outset, there is no one universal
method of opening or entering new terri
tory. One method may prove more effective
in one section and some other method in
another section.
Those seeking to fulhll the gospel com-
mission of, “Go ye into all the world,”
nase, therefore, be familiar with various
methods and must adapt their program to
the particular type of people with whom
they wish to work.
Those who make a success in the field
of salesmanship try to know something
about their prospective customer before
Leadership
A leader loves the people with whom he
works.
A leader acquaints himself with his people.
A leader believes in the cause he is fostering.
A leader is sincere, unassuming, never
pompous.
A leader is full of courage and zeal.
A leader is enthusiastic and glowing.
A leader turns cold water into steam, and
does things.
A leader anticipates the needs, and works to
get them supplied.
A leader encourages others to take part.
A leader shares responsibility, training new
leadership,
A leader gives others the praise and the
glory.
A leader keeps up to date, forges ahead.
A leader relies on power from above to
guide him in his work.
A leader spends much time in prayer.
27
they make any attempt to sell him their
commodity or product. Although we must
not lower the gospel to a commercial level,
yet some of the same principles that apply
in salesmanship surely apply in presenting
the gospel. Salesmen tty to learn as much
as they can about their customer—his back.
ground, interests, hobbies, prejudices, and
needs. This is termed the pre-approach.
It helps them to make a favorable impres-
sion in their approach, create an interest,
develop a desire, and finally consummate a
sale. In getting a petson to accept the
truth we must cause the other person’s
mind to go through the same process as it
goes through in the making of a sale. We
must create a desire and a final acceptance
of the Lord Jesus and His way of life for
mankind.
Having learned something about the
prospective customer, the salesman begins
where the other man’s interests lie. If
the man is a farmer with a prize-winning
dairy herd, he may begin talking about
dairy herds. From this he proceeds to other
things that they both agree upon and which
will give pleasant conversation. Then he
begins talking about his product and how
it will serve his customer's needs. By this
procedure he creates a favorable attitude
and finally convinces his customer of his
need of the product, and the customer
makes the purchase.
Surely the gospel wotker will want to
be as tactful as the commercial salesman.
Therefore, some knowledge of the indi-
vidual or community to be contacted is
of extreme importance and value. We
would not wish to approach an atheist in
the same manner as a Catholic, of a
Catholic in the same manner as a Protestant.
Also there would be a difference in our
approach to a group of farmers as compared
with a group of factory workers or school-
teachers, When we think of a community
or deal with a group, we are generally
faced with a mixed background on the
part of the individuals, so we should adapt
our procedure with a thought for the
majority.
After this preliminary study of those
with whom we expect to work, there are
different ways of proceeding to make con-
tacts, It may be by systematic distribution
of literature, an invitation to enroll in a
Bible correspondence course, an invitation
to attend a series of public evangelistic
meetings, or one of several other initial
approaches, such as a thorough covering of
the territory by our colporteurs to discover
possible interests, One very good way for
our lay people to discover those having an
interest in spiritual things is to enter into
the annual Bible reading program sponsored
by the American Bible Society. To make